The 2009 Great Castell River Race is in the books...

[DarrellS]

Pogo:
Tues. I thought I was on the last step of a ladder (I was'nt) and stepped off and twisted my knee. Woke up early weds. morning extremely sick (sicker than any hangover you can imagine).That lasted thru Fri. I am about 80 percent today and the knee feels better.

As far as the stripper I was not worried about banging it up. My philosphy is "It was built to be used". Thanks for everyone s concerns. I don't know what I had but it was/is a bad deal. Wife has it now.

[bowgarguide]

Talked to Darrel last Thursday
He would have had to look up to see a snakes belly.
Ron

[Pogo]

Personally, I believe ladders are more dangerous than table saws and you never hear much about 'em. I know of two people who have gotten seriously effed-up coming off a ladder in the wrong way. I'm happy to hear you only got a bit of soreness out of your little misadventure.

I also know you ain't no more worried about crunching your stripper than I am. I spent many a day on that river and others like it in my canoe. As you say, it's made to be used, and if it breaks I'll fix it and make it stronger. That's one of the cool things about building your own boat: if you built it, you automatically know how to repair it.

Ron, you could've just grabbed 'im up and dragged his old carcass out there, y' know . . . . .

[Hirsch]

Sounds like a great day and just maybe the water for a 14' Featherlite!

[bowgarguide]

Pogo
As sick as Derral was and the swift water and moss covered rocks,I tried to talk hi out of going.

Hirsh I paddled with a guy in one for a while.

I need to add something to my above post,the boat I was in was up to the task ,but being a rookie I didnt live up to boats potential. Now Gerald had a boat that was hadicapping him and he can live up to the potentiol of a new design. I am sticking with this one until I feel like a different boat will help me.
Ron

[gerald]

Gerald, thanks for the well-written and very entertaining report! I only wish I would have been there....to take pictures, cheer y'all on and meet you at the finish line with a celebratory beverage.

...BUT NOT TO RACE

kIM

They had free beer! at the finish line for the racers. Too bad I'm a Dr. Pepper man. They did give me a drink of water and let the old man sit down in their chair till I recovered from that last 1/2 mile. I was tuckered out...

[gerald]

Sounds like a great day and just maybe the water for a 14' Featherlite!

Yes...exactly. That would be a good boat for the Llano race. You would still want to use good sense when deciding to run a rapid or not (which I didn't), but the Featherlite would be a good choice.

[Light Keeper's Kid]

CONGRATS on a Great race guys Next year you guys are going to

Mike

[bowgarguide]

I think Gerald will agree with me 6 inches less water would make it a whole new race ,a lot of dragging 6 inches more and the ride would get wilder.
Water conditions can change this race dramatically.
Ron